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Diablo 3 : Designing Westmarch

Posted Oct 30, 2013 by Suzie Ford

The Diablo III team is kicking up the information release for the Reaper of Souls expansion, due out in Spring 2014. A new blog post, "Westmarch Level Design", has appeared on the official site and it gives players a good look at why the look and feel of the region was chosen, as well as a sneak peek into mini-dungeons sprinkled throughout the area.

Littered throughout the zone, you'll also find multitudes of randomized sequences we affectionately refer to as "cellars," named after the one-room events scattered throughout Old Tristram in Act I.

This concept of one-room events has been taken to a new level in Reaper of Souls, to the point where you might consider these less like events and more like mini dungeons. One of our artists, Johannes Thé, came up with a new idea on how to chain together multiple types of rooms, which has allowed our designers to create some truly immersive experiences!

Imagine starting in a small house that opens up into a courtyard, where a path guides you through an alleyway to a new house. Not only is this a great way to introduce larger, more interesting story elements, but it's an opportunity to experience Westmarch as though you were actually traveling through it.